IRVING, Texas — Of all the traditional top 10 teams, Oklahoma probably plays the toughest non-conference schedule. In the last three years, it has played Cincinnati and Texas Christian at home, Brigham Young on a neutral field and at Miami (Fla.) and Washington.

This year is no exception. After opening against Utah State, the Sooners host Florida State and Air Force then visit Cincinnati. The strategy worked in 2004 when their tougher schedule helped them edge Auburn for second in the BCS standings and a spot in the title game.

In contrast, Florida, for example, has played the likes of Charleston Southern, Troy, Florida International, Hawaii, The Citadel, Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic. This year, Florida hosts Miami of Ohio, South Florida and Appalachian State.

“I’m not sure I embrace it anymore,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “But in the end, (athletic director) Joe (Castiglione) and I felt when we put it all together, other than this past year, we’ve been in the top 10 usually. We feel there’s always a marquee game or two and if you’re going to be that kind of team you play those kinds of teams.

“Again, I don’t know how much it advantages you. In the end, you lose one game by a point to one of those teams and someone else plays four teams that are easy and you have one more loss than they do, they’ll be ranked ahead of you.

“Everybody talks about it now but at the end of the year it doesn’t happen. Most of you guys rank them by who’s lost and who hasn’t and forget about who played who.”

Stoops said he can’t alter the philosophy if he wanted to.

“We’re pretty far out with our (scheduling),” Stoops said before joking, “It’ll probably be the next coach. It might change for him.”